Oro Valley is giving its businesses a break by relaxing town code to allow for A-frame signs and outdoor merchandise displays.
The Town Council voted at its regular meeting Sept. 21 to approve the temporary use of signs and outdoor displays.
Town code had previously prohibited the use of A-frame signs.
The town also had banned outdoor displays of merchandise by commercial businesses unless a business obtained a $370 special-use permit, good for 60 days.
The temporary use of outdoor displays and A-frame signs ends Feb. 1, 2013. The council plans to review the temporary waivers after they expire.
The council voted 6-0 in two separate motions to approve both temporary measures. Councilman Lou Waters was absent.
Mayor Satish Hiremath said he sees no reason to change town code to make the temporary measures permanent because he sees nothing wrong with current code, which he said is stringent for a reason.
People are also reading…
He does want the town to give local businesses extra tools to thrive during tough economic times.
The town counts on its businesses to generate sales tax revenue to cover town expenses, Hiremath said.
And in the absence of an Oro Valley property tax, sales tax revenue - as well as state-shared revenues - bolsters the town's budget.
"We need to support businesses because that is our paycheck. Without businesses, we don't draw an income," Hiremath said.
The town uses sales tax revenue to help pay for infrastructure, public safety, parks and other services.
Businesses that attended last week's meeting to support outdoor displays of merchandise included Ace Hardware and Play It Again Sports.
Even more businesses turned out to support A-frame signs.
Representatives from Picazzo's, Aim Mail Center, California Design Center/Studio C Interiors, Toscana Studio & Gallery, Trouvaille Salon & Spa, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, and both Oro Valley Ace Hardware stores all told the council they want to use the signs.
Businesses told the council the signs can help direct customers to their sometimes obstructed locations.
Tony Johnson, general manager of California Design Center/Studio C Interiors, brought to the council meeting the A-frame sign his business has used on occasion.
A-frame signs had previously been allowed in Oro Valley from August 2010 to April 2011 under a temporary sign program.
Council members liked the look of Johnson's sign, which was custom-made with professional graphics.
Johnson said the sign increased traffic at the store, which is in Steam Pump Village on North Oracle Road.
"I don't think this is asking very much at all," he said of the use of A-frame signs.
Trouvaille Salon & Spa owner Jenny Ritchie told the council she sometimes uses an A-frame sign outside her salon and spa to let customers know walk-in appointments are available.
She said the sign results in five to 10 appointments each time she puts it outside the entrance to her spa, which is at North Oracle and West Magee roads.
Hand-painted A-frame signs are banned under the temporary code.
Signs must be made with professional graphics and meet size and height standards. Businesses also have to obtain a permit and pay a $50 fee to display A-frame signs.
There are restrictions on where signs can be placed. Signs aren't allowed along public roadways.
Council members made it simple for businesses to display merchandise outdoors. The town created uniform standards for outdoor displays, but businesses are not required to obtain a permit or pay a fee to set up displays.
Still, the town wants to track the number of businesses using the displays, so merchants will have to notify the town if they plan to put merchandise outdoors.
Display standards will be enforced, town officials said.
The Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce supports both temporary measures and the chamber's president and CEO, Dave Perry, told the council he would help the town enforce policies.
Businesses won't take advantage of the town's effort to provide relief during challenging economic times by cluttering walkways with signs and displays, Perry said.
"We don't want to trash this place out. We live here. We like this place a lot. We want to make it as business people," he told the council.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
